<p>I am a sophomore and this spring semester in college I'm only taking two classes -- Microeconomics and Geology. I wanted to take others but I can't. I registered late and no other classes that I need are open. Also they aren't granting overflows to me. So is it okay if I only take 2 classes this semester or will this hurt by transcript when applying to grad school?</p>
<p>Also I am going to make up for it by taking 2 Maymester classes and 2 Summer classes. So is it all that bad, or is it fine?</p>
<p>Well, it depends. Don’t you have to maintain a “FULL TIME STUDENT” status, having a minimum of 12 credits? If you can’t get access to class, how about taking courses that fulfill General Education requirements?</p>
<p>Well I’ve always had at least 12 credits a semester until now. My financial aid only requires a minimum of 6 credits so it won’t hurt me that way if I only take two classes. Why do I have to maintain a full time student status every semester? Also I’ve taken all the General Education requirements. I needed major course but they’re all full.</p>
<p>For some colleges, dropping from a full-time to part-time student even if it is one semester can affect your financial aid and housing (if you live on campus). But I guess you don’t have that issue since you state that you can have 6 credits for financial aid. =</p>
<p>If you need major courses, you should try and contact a dean, academic adviser, or someone who is the head of the department to give you permission to register for the specific classes. Go in person. Emphasize that you need the class for your major.</p>
<p>I don’t know if you contacted these people yet, but if all you contacted so far was a professor, definitely try to meet with one of the three people I mentioned above.</p>
<p>Do you need elective courses? It won’t hurt you for grad school and such, because they understand that people have to take time off for various reasons (work, family stuff, etc). When is the last date you can add classes? If it’s not to late, I’d just watch the classes you want like a hawk and some might open up.</p>
<p>Yes that’s exactly what I did. I spoke to the professor and academic adviser for 2 classes that I need for my major. The overflow request didn’t go through and they don’t take past the capacity. Plus the waiting list didn’t have me on first so I didn’t get priority. That’s why I’m wondering if it’s okay to just take 2 classes this semester and lay low, but make up for it during Maymester and Summer sessions. </p>
<p>I don’t live on campus and the financial aid won’t affect me because it only requires 6 credits. I’m asking mainly because I’m concerned if it just plain looks bad to only take 2 clases. =/</p>
<p>I would be concerned about not meeting “full time student” requirements. For most colleges, one must take a minimum of 12 credits to be considered a full time student. I would seriously consider taking at least 2 more classes. Put them towards a possible minor or explore another area of interest. The credits can be used towards the total credit requirements for your degree (generally speaking, most colleges require at least 120 credits total to earn a bachelor’s).</p>
<p>I know I won’t meet full time student requirements, but I will only have that status for one semester. I definitely learned my lesson about registering early next time. Is it alright though if I’m not a full time student, but <em>only</em> for this semester? I know I can make it up. I set up a schedule and I can still graduate early if I take summer and May sessions.</p>
<p>Full time status can also impact eligibility for staying on your parent’s health insurance (Obamacare is suppose to fix this, but some plans are grandfathered exempt - you need to confirm). As far as housing, at some schools you have to be a defined full-time student to live in the dorms - are you eligible to stay in the dorms?</p>
<p>At my school you are allowed to drop below full time status three times before they take away your fin aid. I had to drop Cal because I was doing horribly and ended up only taking 9 credits one semester and nothing bad happened to me, </p>
<p>It just depends on the school. You’ll have to go look in your catalog at the policies and stuff.</p>
<p>Well here’s the thing. My parents don’t have health insurance and neither do I. They chose not to, they’d rather just not have it so insurance is not a problem for me. Also I commute to university since it’s relatively close so I don’t have to worry about dorms either. So with insurance and dorms out of the way, I guess I don’t have anything to worry about. Unless it just plain looks bad.</p>
<p>I think it’s a terrible idea. If you’re paying tuition for being a full time student and you’re only taking 2 classes, you’re wasting money. Why in the world would you choose to take 2 classes worth of credits for the same price as you would for taking 4 to 5 classes worth of credits. </p>
<p>IMO–You really should add at least 2 more classes. Isn’t there anything open that even slightly interests you?</p>
<p>^Uh, I’d hope he finds a benefit in taking additional classes for no cost. </p>
<p>Not to mention it’s not a sunk cost–you can still withdraw for a full tuition refund in most colleges at this point. I don’t think it’s worth sticker price for 6 credits, and it’s not even worth half price (which some schools might offer) considering you should be taking 15-18 credits.</p>
<p>Now, financial aid might make the cost of withdrawing for a semester unreasonable, but you should at least take additional classes if you can’t reasonably withdraw.</p>
<p>They don’t have to be pointless classes. Just because a class is not within your major’s department, doesn’t mean it’s pointless. There are plenty of classes that are relevant to life in general. </p>
<p>Oral Communications
Economics
a psychology class
Business class</p>
<p>Gaining a bit of knowledge about a variety of things is better than leaving the majority of a semester’s schedule blank.</p>
<p>I agree with justotalk. It’s a waste to pay full time tuition and take only 6 credits. It’s ridiculous to then add on top of this the cost of classes for May and summer sessions to make up for this waste of a semester.</p>
<p>But I’m not paying anything for it. In my state the scholarship pays entirely for the tuition, whether it be 6 credits or 12 credits. Also I’ve already taken those classes you listed. I really don’t see any loss since the scholarship pays for it. I might as well take the classes I need because I don’t need filler classes. Also the scholarship pays for May and Summer sessions. This is why I don’t see any harm in my plan. As said before, I’m not paying full time tuition let alone any tuition. I only pay mandatory fees which is why I’m thinking the two classes is fine. Right?</p>
<p>Is your scholarship limited to a certain number of years (e.g. 4 years) or credits? If your financial aid is only limited to credits, then I agree 6 is fine if you’re comfortable having way too much free time. But if it’s limited to 4 years then you’re wasting a free ride by not taking an interesting elective.</p>
<p>Of course, if you aren’t interested in taking another class, then it doesn’t sound like you should have any incentive. So, it’s a matter of opinion; I don’t think there’s a correct option.</p>